Divided Worlds Trilogy 01 - Disconnect by Imran Siddiq

Programme have just been released. In brief, plans have been made to negotiate the peaceful movement of Underworlders from the Districts. And, according to this,” she sat upright, “negotiations started four days ago and are due to conclude shortly with all indications pointing to a peaceful resolution.”
    The image fizzed back to Rosa holding her face. “Do you believe me now?”
    Zachary shook his head. “There aren’t any negotiations.”
    “But they said –”
    “There aren’t.” He smacked the wall. “Your recordings are lies.”
    “They’re news reporters, why would they lie?”
    “I don’t know?” He rose, jerking his head left to right.
    “Zach, you have to get out of there.” The image spluttered.
    “Nobody will believe me. They’ll call me mad. Maybe if I replay the recordings?” His temples pulsed. “Then I have to explain this Intercom.”
    “Can you hear me?” Rosa’s face split in two between jagged lines. “Zach?”
    “You’re breaking up.” He shook the Intercom.
    “I can’t hear … have to get out … talk to Father … change his mind.” The Intercom fuzzed with her image frozen.
    “Rosa?” Zachary pressed the Raptor against his chest.
    The capsule showed “3%”. It wasn’t empty. Why the malfunction? Was this due to another shortage? Did Overworlders know that she was talking to him? Why wouldn’t they? Heck – they controlled the oxygen, the outpour of waste, the drops, and the blasted sheets of paper warning them to leave. He looked onto the unaware residents who moved bug-like in Shantytown. They had to be warned.
    A hard object smacked Zachary’s back, knocking him down. His arm crashed through the roof of the home below. Twisting, sinking further through the hole, he saw a figure clamber off the roof.
    “Working things like these aren’t for little boys,” sneered Horatio, lifting the Raptor several feet from Zachary’s grasp.
    Horatio stamped down, shattering the floorboards, and sending Zachary into the flat below. The table he landed on, rigid as it was, broke his fall. Rolling off, he heard the scuttling racket of Horatio speeding down the ladder. Zachary wobbled out of the doorway.
    He glared down onto the thief. “ Give it back! ”
    Boots snapped to either side of the ladder’s frame, Zachary slid downward. Horatio burst west out of Shantytown to the steep cliff that overlooked the Wastelands. With his grey locks hanging in the air and arms spread, the old thief jumped off the cliff.
    Zachary skidded to a halt. Moaning, and looking like a fur-matted dog, Horatio crawled, clutching his stomach with a small object fizzling behind him.
    Digging his nails into the cliff-face, almost drawing blood, Zachary lowered himself. He hurtled towards the Intercom. It lay within a boot print. Its upper screen was smashed and the rear battery compartment hung by thin strands.
    Nothing happened when his thumb pressed the recognition pad.
    The Raptor was broken.

Chapter 12 - Disorder
    None of the increased pressure Zachary put on the pad helped. Loose fragments vibrated every time he pressed it. He kneeled down, pulling out copper strands embedded in the ground. Did they all belong to the Raptor? Unsure, he took what he could, or what made sense to. All the time, anger frothed in his mouth.
    Three thin cogs slipped out from under the screen; one careered into a swamp and sank. The other two, he caught. Black liquid trickled from out of the battery compartment onto his palm.
    A tinny noise sounded from the Raptor. Hoping, he held it up. The Intercom sparkled golden shards over his cheek. Eyes blinking, he brushed them away. Clasped too tight in has hand, the raptor snapped. Zachary’s arm plummeted to his kneecaps. He shoved every manageable part into his pocket.
    Horatio continued his pathetic run.
    “Why did you do this?” shouted Zachary.
    “Leave me alone,” shrieked the thief. “You’ve got it. Go away.”
    “Leave you?” Zachary yanked his boot free